Do I need thyroid meds?

Hi,

I just had blood work done, and after the first round, the PA wanted to do more. Here's what I know:

First test:        TSH 6.14  
Second test:    TSH 4.55
                         T3    30
                         T4    7.7

From everything I've read, I do need something. I just read a post here, and someone mentioned that one only needs Armour if the T3 is not doing something. I'm sorry, but I am very new and don't know what that means or how to determine if my T3 count calls for Armour or not.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me? Thank you so much!

Beth

[hisacorn]

Bumpity, please? Any thoughts????

[AR-10]

TSH rises and falls through the day, and the week, and the month. A slight variation from test to test can be normal, although the variation in your TSH is a bit large.

It is hard to comment on your T3 and T4, as the normal ranges vary from lab to lab, and there are several types of tests for each of those hormones.

Are they Free T3 and Free T4 tests?

[hisacorn]

I requested that they be "free", and she said that's what they do. I believe LabCorp did the work.

How can you tell if the T3 is not doing it's job and one needs Armour instead of Synthroid?

Thanks so much,
Beth

[AR-10]

It depends on the measure of Free T3 that you have compared to the measure of Free T4.

If your Free T4 is normal or slightly high and your Free T3 is slightly low, then Armour, or Synthroid (T4) and Cytomel (T3) may benefit you.

The more I read, the more I am starting to think Armour may benefit quite a few people who are taking Synthroid or Levothyroxine.

Like the debate over whether coffee is good for you or bad for you, there doesn't seem to anything set in concrete.